United States, Colorado, Gunnison, Gothic, Virginia Basin; ca. 1.5 mi NE Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. Transects 1-4 for Langenheim vegetation resurvey. Forest just W of trail. Start sampling near upper mining cabin by large talus slope. Sample 4 x 50m transects through forest understory.
3322-3353 meters
Elev.: 10900-11000 ft./ 3322-3353 m.
Spruce-fir forest understory.
Understory dominated by Vaccinium growing in deep, dry duff. Understory more diverse in gaps and on steeper slopes. Associated species: Pedicularis racemosa (flowering, v. common), Arnica cordifolia (fl., v.c.), Osmorhiza depauperata (frt., common), Chamerion angustiolium (vegetative, small), Lathyrus (vegetative, common), Castilleja w/ red bracts (in openings), Columbine (veg., on slopes), Ribes montigenum , Polemonium pulcherimum (veg.), Angelica grayi, Ligusticum porteri (veg.) Pseudocymopterus.
Almost continuous cover in forest understory. Large, thin, light-green, opposite leaves. Extensive below-ground woody growth and crooked stalks. Stems green. Leaves widest at midpoint. Leaves minutely serrate with hair at pt.